~ jan wrote:
Pat wrote:
~ jan wrote:

Are you hoping for a clear water pond? Koi mud ponds use clay for good
growth of the koi, but the water is usually murky brownish green. Koi &
even goldfish fish love to dig in clay for the aquatic critters that live
in it. Thus you can rarely see them. Now if you're just going to grow
lilies or something... ? What are your plans for filtration?

12x12, you'd be better off with a rubber liner if you want clear water.

Yes, I want clear water. I was unaware that bentonite would make the
water murky. I suspected it might, but was not sure. I wasn't planning
on koi or goldfish, but perhaps some kind of small fish that we could
catch and eat, and plants, too. There will be the usual filtration
setup. If I can have clear water with tilapia, crappie and minnows, or
something like that, and still use bentonite, and if bentonite is
considerably less expensive than a rubber liner, I'd still like to use
it. What do you think?

Well....... how many feet deep were you planning? Most clay ponds have
gradual sloping sides. 12 X 12 isn't going to give you very many gallons.
By the time anything is big enough to eat, you'll be attached to it... but
I could be very wrong.

It will be 3' or so in the center, with a shallow zone about 1.5-2'
wide at the edges, then gradually sloping to the deepest part.

I will be attached to the idea of eating the fish, I hope!

If not having fish that dig, clay should be more do-able. Have you priced
liner though?

No, not yet. I hope there are winter sales going on, or soon. Still
hoping bentonite will work and be a good bit less costly.